[IL-Talk] [IABS-Talk] FW: NFBI Chicago Chapter Minutes, December 9, 2023, with Corrections

Thu Jan 11 18:23:01 UTC 2024

I noticed that Brad Schneider's last name is spelled incorrectly. The
congressman is referenced near the end of the state president's
report.

Thanks for all that you do.

-- 
Marilyn Green, President
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
312-343-8396
president at nfbofillinois.org
www.nfbofillinois.org
Live the life you want!

The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois is a community of
members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the
nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live
the lives they want.

On 1/10/24, Deborah Kent Stein via IABS-Talk <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>
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> NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER  MINUTES
>
> December 9, 2023
>
>
>
> CALL TO ORDER
>
>
>
> Chicago Chapter President Denise Avant called the meeting to order at 12
> noon instead of the usual 1 PM due to the annual holiday auction, which
> took
> place following the business meeting. Members present included Mary
> Grunwald, Nickie Nishijima, Pamela Provost, Debbie Stein, Ken Borst, Robert
> Hansen, Bill Reif, Ken Schad, Eileen Truschke, David Meyer, Pam Gillmore,
> Kira O'Bradovitch, Michal Nowicki, Marilyn Green, Chris Millsap, Dan
> Tevelde, Jemal Powell, Dustin Cather, Melissa Fuller, Michelle Ault, and
> first-timers Juan Lopez and Mayokunle Efunbote. Online were Gary Jones, Bob
> Lee,  and Bob Widman. Michal Nowicki announced that he has been promoted to
> senior associate attorney.
>
>
>
> SECRETARY'S MINUTES
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>
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> Ken Borst moved and Jemal Powell seconded approval of the November
> Secretary's Minutes. The minutes were approved unanimously.
>
>
>
> TREASURER'S Summary
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>
>
> Chapter Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch reported that we have $3,241.90 in the
> treasury. That included $750 from the Read-a-thon and $92.75 from the
> collection. Denise reminded people to deposit reimbursement checks as soon
> as possible, ideally within thirty days.
>
>
>
> STATE PRESIDENT'S REPORT
>
>
>
> NFBI President Marilyn Green reported that the NFBI board meeting will take
> place on December 14 at 7 PM. More information will be forthcoming. The
> board meeting is a great opportunity for people to learn about programs and
> policies within the affiliate. The Zoom link will go out on our email
> lists.
> The NFB National Scholarship application is now available at
> www.nfb.org/scholarships <http://www.nfb.org/scholarships> . Seven people
> will represent Illinois at the 2024 Washington Seminar: Michelle Ault,
> Denise Avant, Dustin Cather, Tasibih (Abboo) Elfaki, Kira O'Bradovitch,
> Dilip Shah, and Caitlyn Ryan. The Great Gathering In will take place on
> January 29, and it will be streamed for those who cannot attend in person.
>
>
>
> The 2024 National Convention will take place in Orlando, Florida, July 3-8.
> Hotel reservations can be made after January 1. Illinois will host Chicago
> and Springfield BELL Academies in 2024.
>
>
>
> FEDERAL LEGISLATION
>
>
>
> Denise Avant reported that the following bills will be promoted at the 2024
> Washington Seminar: the Website Software Applications Accessibility Act (S
> 2984 and HR 5813) and the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (HR
> 1328), which doesn't yet have a companion bill in the Senate. We are still
> working on the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, designed to get rid of
> the earnings limit. Denise sent out a call to action regarding the Access
> Technology Affordability Act, which now has sixty-four cosponsors; however,
> only four of them are from Illinois. Denise encouraged everyone to reach
> out
> to their representatives and ask them to sign on as cosponsors for this
> bill. We also need to contact Senators Tammy Duckworth and Richard Durbin.
> Most of the representatives from Chicago in the 117th Congress previously
> cosponsored the bill, as did Sen. Duckworth.
>
>
>
> Dustin Cather added that HR 1328 currently has forty-nine cosponsors.
> Illinois cosponsors are Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, Jesús García, Danny
> Davis, and Raja Krishnamoorthi. Jan Schakowsky was the original sponsor.
> The
> Transformation to Integrated and Competitive Employment Act is S 533, and
> it
> has one cosponsor in the Senate. The House version is HR 1253, with
> twenty-six cosponsors. Cosponsors from Illinois are Robin Kelly and Mike
> Quigley. In the Senate the Access Technology Affordability Act is S 1467,
> with fifteen cosponsors. None of them come from Illinois. The House bill is
> HR 3702, and it has sixty cosponsors. Four of them are from Illinois: Jan
> Schakowsky, Mike Bost, Mike Quigley, and Brad Steiner. The House version of
> the Website and Software Applications Accessibility Act is HR 5813, which
> has two cosponsors. Tammy Duckworth introduced the Senate version, S 2984,
> which has five cosponsors.
>
>
>
> PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE
>
>
>
> NFB President Mark Riccobono delivered Presidential Release 533 on November
> 30 from Members Hall at the NFB Jernigan Institute. The NFB Board of
> Directors was in attendance. We are closing out a very successful 2023 and
> making exciting plans for 2024. We may be able to get the Access Technology
> Affordability Act into the tax package to be advanced through Congress
> before the end of the year. We will need to take immediate action to
> increase the number of cosponsors on the bill in the House and the Senate.
> The House bill is HR 3702, and the Senate bill is S 1467. This act creates
> a
> two-thousand-dollar refundable tax credit to be spread over a three-year
> period for the purchase of personal access technology.
>
>
>
> In 2024 we will bring back our summer internship program. This is a great
> opportunity for people to gain work experience while contributing to the
> mission of the NFB at national headquarters. Internships will run from June
> 3 through August 29. For information contact Anil Lewis at alewis at nfb.org
> <mailto:alewis at nfb.org> .
>
>
>
> Information about Washington Seminar is available at
> nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar. Get hotel
> reservations in as soon as possible. Visit the website for information
> about
> the issues.
>
>
>
> Regina Mitchell of Nevada, chair of the NFB in the Kitchen Group, announces
> a campaign to increase the accessibility of emerging kitchen appliances.
> What accessible or newly accessible devices are blind people using? In
> December 2023 and January 2024 the group asks blind people to share
> information about kitchen devices they know are accessible. In February the
> group will begin a campaign to identify inaccessible devices and will
> encourage  manufacturers to make them accessible. Email
> nfb-inthekitchen-subscribe at nfbnet.org
> <mailto:nfb-inthekitchen-subscribe at nfbnet.org>  or go to nfbnet.org  to
> sign
> up for the listserv. Reach out to Regina at chefrdm at gmail.com
> <mailto:chefrdm at gmail.com> .
>
>
>
> We encourage you to make end-of-year contributions to the NFB and encourage
> others to do so. The Central Arkansas Chapter is the newest chapter to join
> the PAC Plan. You can donate at nfb.org/donate. If you use Lyft you can
> join
> the Lyft Roundup program, which makes donations by rounding up your fare to
> the nearest dollar.
>
>
>
> President Riccobono noted the passing of Chicago Chapter member Ken Staley,
> known as the Candy King. He was famous for his booming voice when he served
> as a talking sign at national conventions. President Riccobono also
> acknowledged the passing of Nicole Yarmolkevich, an NFBI Scholarship winner
> in 2010. He extended condolences to Bill Reif for the loss of his father.
>
>
>
> The next Presidential Release will be recorded on January 4, 2024.
>
>
>
> COMMITTEE REPORTS
>
>
>
> Fundraising: Dave Meyer noted that fundraisers tend to run their course,
> and
> some of our longstanding events have become less successful over the years.
> We need to come up with some fresh ideas. We will look at fundraisers that
> have worked well for other chapters. One perennially successful fundraiser
> is the Chicago Chapter Holiday Auction, which has been a mainstay for many
> years. For the 2023 Holiday Auction, Dave and Dustin served as auctioneers.
> Denise explained that if we raise between $1400 and $2400 with the auction
> we can offer more money to help members who attend Washington Seminar.
>
>
>
> Advocacy Committee: Advocacy Committee Chair Kira O'Bradovitch reported
> that
> we are in the middle of our letter-writing campaign for the CTA Advisory
> Committee. We need to explain that we would like CTA to include more
> accessible information at bus stops and in CTA stations. Signs need to be
> in
> consistent locations and should have more information than "Bus Stop." Kira
> will send out information again on the listservs.
>
>
>
> NEW BUSINESS
>
>
>
> Denise explained that Exchequer Pub and Restaurant has hosted meetings of
> the Chicago Chapter since the 1990s. Now the management has informed Denise
> that it plans to renovate the room where we have held our meetings over the
> years. Beginning in January the restaurant will no longer be able to
> accommodate a group of our size. We don't know how long the renovation will
> take, and we don't know whether Exchequer will be able to accommodate us
> once the work is complete. Therefore we are looking for a new location
> where
> we can hold in-person meetings. We need to find a place that is accessible
> and cost efficient. Our January meeting will take place over Zoom. Ideas
> for
> new locations are welcome! Send ideas to Denise at
> chicago.president at nfbofillinois.org
> <mailto:chicago.president at nfbofillinois.org> . We very much appreciate the
> kindness and generosity that the Exchequer staff has extended to us over
> these many years!
>
>
>
> Dave reported that he spoke with Cathy Randall, and the news about her
> husband Bob is not good. His cancer has returned and has spread. Denise
> urged us to keep the Randalls in our thoughts and prayers.
>
>
>
> ADJOURNMENT
>
>
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> The meeting adjourned at 1:10 PM., and was followed by the Holiday Auction.
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>
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> Respectfully submitted,
>
> Debbie Stein, Secretary
>
>
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>
>
>
>
> --
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